Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience |  University of Cape Coast

The Africa-University of British Columbia (UBC) Oceans and Fisheries Visiting Fellows Program has unveiled its inaugural laureates: Dr. Cynthia A. Adinortey from Ghana and Dr. Antony Otinga Oteng’o from Kenya. This new program is designed to support early-career academics from Sub-Saharan Africa, by providing them with the opportunity to collaborate with researchers at UBC, to access its extensive resources, and contribute to sustainable management practices for Africa’s oceans and fisheries. This emphasizes the significance of the partnership in addressing the challenges facing Africa’s oceans and fisheries.

The program was created by Professors Rashid Sumaila and Daniel Pauly, both African-born professors at UBC, with the aim of fostering international research partnerships. The University of Cape Coast (UCC) through the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR) in Ghana, played an integral role in its establishment, collaborating closely with UBC to develop the initiative. 

Dr. Adinortey, is a senior lecturer at UCC, and is focused on combating antibiotic resistance in aquaculture, with the goal of improving disease management practices within Ghana's fisheries. Meanwhile, Dr. Oteng’o, a lecturer at the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, is conducting research on mangrove conservation and exploring alternative livelihoods, such as beekeeping, to support coastal communities in Kenya.

Both fellows will engage in virtual collaboration with UBC faculty members for 11 months, with a one-month visit to UBC's Vancouver campus to further their work. The program also offers each fellow CAD 23,000 in support, fostering stronger ties between African researchers and the global academic community.

Through this initiative, the Africa-UBC Oceans and Fisheries Visiting Fellows Program aims to contribute to the sustainable management of Africa’s marine and freshwater resources, advancing global academic collaboration to tackle pressing environmental challenges.

Source: https://oceans.ubc.ca/2024/12/05/africa-ubc-oceans-and-fisheries-visiting-fellows-program-laureates/